Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cast iron cooking, cast iron cookware, cast iron pots, cast iron recipes, shit on a shingle, sos, stew on a shingle
We could wax poetic every post about all the benefits that cast iron cookware has over other materials but where
is the fun in that. Truth be told, what good is your
cast iron skillet
or dutch oven
if you don’t have some quick and easy recipes to use with it.
Now that summer is here no one wants to be stuck in the kitchen all afternoon preparing dinner. This is especially
true down here in Cajun Country it has been unbearably hot recently so I decided to take it easy last night and use
my trusty old
cast iron skillet
to prepare an old military favorite, SOS, which we will call for the sake of this blog “Stew on a Shingle”.
Cast Iron SOS Recipe
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
- 4 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
- 3 Cups Milk
- 1 Pound Chipped Beef
- 1 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
Melt the butter in your cast iron pot and mix in your flour until it forms a roux. Add the milk to the roux slowly and
once mixed turn the heat up to medium high until the gravy begins boil. Stir in the chipped beef and cayenne pepper and
let simmer for 1-2 minutes. Serve over toast and/or mashed potatoes. Serves 8.
While I use chipped beef, SOS can also be prepared using hamburger or even Buddig beef which should be fried up before
adding to the gravy. Whatever meat you choose, or even no meat at all, SOS is a delicious and filling concoction that
will satisfy the whole family.
While I used my skillet, SOS can be prepared in any of the versatile cast iron cookware you may own, including
dutch ovens,
sauce pans or even a large
griddle
if your in a pinch (be careful, it’s messy). Whatever cookware you choose, SOS is best prepared on the cooktop
or over a campfire as it requires consistent stirring so the gravy mix will not burn.
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Filed under: bakeware, cast iron, cast iron cookware, cast iron pots, cookware, dutch oven, enamel lodge skillet, skillet, skillets | Tags: cast iron bakeware, cast iron casserole dish, cast iron cookware, cast iron cornbread pan, cast iron cornbread pans, cast iron dutch ovens, cast iron skillets, christmas shopping, holiday cooking, holiday shopping
With Thanksgiving only a couple of days away, most of us are dreadfully looking about 16 hours past the end of the dinner towards the official start of…
The Christmas Shopping Season.
If you’re like me, and I have a feeling that many of you are, while the masses rush the glass doors of their favorite local retailer – knocking over shopping carts, displays and small children as they sprint towards the half-price Hannah Montana play set – you will be snuggled up under the covers waiting for the afternoon news so you can hear about yet another riot over a small, stuffed creature.
Take a deep breath, sit back and relax.
Holiday shopping has gotten easier. Whether you are looking for toys for the children, a new gas grill for dad or an HDTV for the whole family, you can find everything you are looking for online.
If you have a chef in the family, one of the best gifts to consider is the highly durable and versatile cast iron cookware. Cast iron dutch ovens, skillets and bakware have been a favorite in kitchens around the world for hundreds of years and its popularity continues to grow.
But why wait until Christmas?
If you’re planning a large Holiday dinner for the family or even an intimate meal for the two of you, cast iron cookware is the perfect choice for your Holiday meal preparation. But if you’re planning on cooking with quality cast iron, you may want to get started early…
While cooking some delicious cobbler or some juicy steaks on a new cast iron casserole pot or griddle is sure to taste better than any other type of cookware, there is truly nothing better than a well-seasoned and well-used piece of cast iron cookware for your food’s flavor. And if you’re looking for the perfect compliment to your holiday meal, no dinner is complete without some mouth-watering cornbread prepared in fun, cornbread-shaped cornbread pans.
Whatever your holiday plans may be, save yourself the hassle of bumper to bumper traffic and adrenaline-filled holiday shoppers this shopping season and purchase all of your holiday gifts online. With no wait shopping, easy checkouts and front-door delivery, online shopping is the perfect way to buy cast iron cookware and any other gift ideas for your family and friends.
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Filed under: bakeware, cast iron, cast iron cookware, cast iron pots, cookware, dutch oven, holiday cooking, skillet, skillets, thanksgiving, thanksgiving cooking | Tags: cast iron bakeware, cast iron baking, cast iron casserole dish, cast iron casserole pots, cast iron cooking, cast iron cookware, cast iron cornbread pan, cast iron cornbread pans, cast iron dutch oven, cast iron sillets, cast iron skillet, cooking with cast iorn, cooking with cast iron cookware, cornbread, cornbread pans, dutch oven, thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day
In our second installment of creating the perfect Thanksgiving dinner with your cast iron cookware we are going to move past the desert table and focus on one of the most overlooked (and delicious) aspects of any Thanksgiving meal.
The cornbread.
Sweet, delectable cornbread. Cooked to perfection in a cast iron cornbread pan or even your trusty cast iron skillet.
Whether your Thanksgiving is centered around a turkey, ham or pizza, cornbread is the ideal side for your Thanksgiving feast. (Well, maybe not pizza, but who has pizza for Thanksgiving dinner?)
Cornbread in the united States is older than the first settlers, which may be why it has become a staple on so many Thanksgiving Day tables. Native Americans knew early how to dry and grind the corn, which as anyone who has driven across our country knows is very abundant, into corn meal. By adding eggs and flour, the basic cornbread could be made.
Fast forward to modern times.
Cornbread is still a very popular because of its versatility to go with almost any meal. It has become a staple at most major American holidays, including Thanksgiving. There are several recipes to make cornbread but we are going to focus on one that is truly simple and delicious.
Depending on how fancy you want your Thanksgiving feast to look, you may want to invest in some cast iron bakeware. You can even find cast iron cornbread pans that allow you to cook your cornbread in fun, corn ear shapes. However, you can bake your cornbread in basically any piece of cast iron cookware you own, such as a dutch oven, skillet or even a casserole dish.
No matter what piece of cast iron you use to cook the cornbread, it is sure to be one of the hits of your Thanksgiving Day table.
Cornbread Ingredients:
- Eggs – 2 (Beaten)
- Cornmeal – 1 1/2 Cups
- Milk – 1 1/4 Cup
- Flour – 1 Cup
- Vegetable oil – 1/2 Cu
- Salt – 1 1/4 Tsp
- Baking powder – 1 Tbsp
- Granulated Sugar – 2 Tsp
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Mix the milk and corn meal together an let sit for at least ten minutes. Combine the baking powder, salt flour and the sugar into one bowl and set it aside. Add the eggs, corn meal mix and oil into a large cast iron skillet and mix together on low heat. Pour the flour, salt and sugar mixture into the wet corn meal mixture and mix thoroughly until there is no trace of white powder. Finally pour the mixture into your cast iron cornbread pan (or leave it in the skillet if you are using that for baking) and place it in your preheated oven. Allow to bake for 25-30 minutes or until your cornbread is golden and has no trace of wet mixture when poked with a fork.
For best results, use plenty of butter and don’t worry about the calories.
It is Thanksgiving Day after all.
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Filed under: camp pots, camp side cooking, campfire cooking, camping, campside cooking, cast iron, cast iron cookware, cast iron pots, cookware, dutch oven, skillet, skillets | Tags: camp side cooking, campfire cooking, camping, cast iron, cast iron camp pot, cast iron cookware, cast iron dutch oven, cast iron seasoning, cast iron skillet, outdoor cooking, seasoned cast iron cookware
Well, it is definitely that time of year again. The leaves are starting to fall, football season is in full swing and everybody is itching to break out their tents and sleeping bags for a relaxing weekend under the stars.
If your like me – and I’m sure many of you are – the greatest part about a weekend camping trip is the cooking. When you’ve spent all day hiking, throwing horse shoes and playing hide and seek with the kids, there is nothing better than the taste of a hearty stew or some steak and eggs cooked to perfection in your favorite piece of cast iron cookware.
As you know, cast iron cookware is available in a variety of styles, each with their own, unique place when it comes to campfire cooking. Depending on the length of your camping trip and how much cooking you are planning on doing – in my case, a lot – you will need to decide what types of cast iron cookware you will want to bring along.
- Cast Iron Skillets – When camping, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who didn’t absolutely love their cast iron skillet. Whether you are preparing pancakes for breakfast or a some loose meat sandwiches for the evening meal, the cast iron skillet is a favorite of campers everywhere.
- Cast Iron Camp Pots – Cast Iron camp pots are the ultimate in outdoor cookware. For anyone who loves outdoor cooking, the camp pot is probably the most important cooking vessel in your cast iron arsenal. And they don’t call them ovens for the heck of it – Most quality cast iron camp pots will have feet on the bottom for sitting over hot coals or wood and a flat lid which will allow the camp side chef to put hot coals on the lid, allowing the food to cook more evenly from the top and bottom – very similar to your conventional oven at home.
- Cast Iron Dutch Ovens – Very similar to the cast iron cam pot, the cast iron dutch oven allows you to cook large meals for the whole family. Quality dutch ovens will usually have a reversible lid which will allow the cook to turn it over to place coals for oven-style cooking and a sturdy handle for hanging the dutch oven over the fire for slow roasting.
- Cast Iron Jambalaya Pots – Down here in Cajun country, we love our jambalaya. Jambalaya pots and stands are the perfect way to prepare a huge pot of jambalaya or gumbo – allowing it to slowly simmer over the course of a few hours.
The most important thing to remember when cap side cooking is to plan ahead. Make sure you have enough food for the meals you plan so you don’t have to make any special runs to the nearest store, which will probably be overpriced and prepare an area to place th hot cast iron once you are done cooking – the last thing you want to do is end up being the poster child for preventing forest fires.
Safety is key when cooking with cast iron – both around the campfire and in your home. It is important to remember that cast iron cookware gets HOT – take precautions and keep small children away from the fire and the skillet once the eggs are ready. Some of the things you should consider when cooking by campfire include:
- Season your cookware – Before heading out to the campsite, make sure your cast iron cookware is properly seasoned. If you regularly cook with your trusty cast iron dutch oven, there is no reason it shouldn’t be, but if you notice any rusty areas or are just a little unsure, follow the steps in my previous blog, Cast Iron Seasoning.
- Don’t rush cooking – Wait for the fire to burn into a bed of coals before cooking. Not only will the coals be hotter, but you will have less of a chance of getting singed by the flame.
- Wear the right clothes – Avoid loose clothing that could fall into the heat and catch fire while you are cooking or could catch on the handle of a skillet or pan.
- Put out the heat – Once your food is prepared, make sure to put out the coals and ensure that everyone is aware of the danger so they do not step on a stray hot area.
- Be prepared – Have some water, a shovel and an ash container in case of an emergency where you will need to extinguish the flame.
When done properly, camping and outdoor cooking is one of the greatest experiences in the world. Not only will cooking with cast iron over a campfire allow you to make one of the most delicious meals your family has ever tasted, but it will get them away from the television where you can spend some true quality time. So, grab the tent, the sweatshirts and that trusty seasoned cast iron cookware and get your family in touch with nature!
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